Woodstock 40th Anniversary

I spent one of the most exciting days of my life on Oct. 25. It was the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock West-Fest in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. I have never been to anything like it before, and will never see anything like it again. I went with my old high school friend, Matt Culmore.

The music was indescribable. Each group went on, played 3 songs, then the next group came on. You would have thought that each and every one of them was getting paid big money to put on the best performance possible. In reality this celebration was free to the public, and the performers played for free.

You name it I saw it. Great cooperation, organization, love, high energy, almost necked women thinking they were still 16, crazy outfits, super stoned people, people from infants to 70ish, a crowd of close to 100,000, and not a single fight or disturbance. It was amazing!!!! The entire 42 acts went off without a hitch on an incredibly decorated stage.

We had a large number of people show up to play "Purple Haze" in honor of Jimi Hendrix who was the head liner at the Woodstock 1969, but we did not break the Guinness World Record. It did not seem to matter to anyone. We had such a fantastic time with everyone playing with the band that consisted of Vernon "Ice" Black, Leon Hendrix, Riki Hendrix, and some other kicking guitarist that I do not have the names of. There were many families that came out together to play. It was great!!! Yes, I did it! Ok, not like most of the guitarists there, but I played as hard as I could go and laughed my head off.

The highlight of the day for me was meeting Artie Kornfield. He was the organizer of the original Woodstock of 1969. I was star struck! He is a music god. If you get the chance "google" his name and read about his career.

Please look to right side of this blog, and you will see the links to the pictures on my flickr.com account from the day. I wish you could have all been there. It was an EXPERIENCE!!!

Just a few of the bands: Edwin Hawkins Singers (Oh Happy Day), Country Joe and The Fish, Ray Manzarek of The Doors, El Chicano, The Chambers Brothers, Jefferson Starship, Gregg Allman Band, Denny Lane of Wings & The Moody Blue, David Denny of Steve Miller Band,Prairie Prince of The Tubes, Diana Mangano of The Jefferson Starship, Narada Michael Walden (drummer), The Family Stone (minus Sly), Vernon "Ice" Black, John York of The Birds, The original cast of Hair, etc.......

Cheers,
Claudia